Air-compressing apparatus.



W. U. GRIPPITHS.

' AIR GOMPRESSING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 15, 11909.

Patented Nov. 1,1910.

2 BHESTBBHBET 1.

vl I

M WITNESSES r INVEIITOR um Nunn; Krans co.. wnsumaon, n.

W. U. GRIPIITHS.

Am coMPREssING APPARATUS.

` APPLICATION FILED JUNE 15, 1909. 974,261 Patented Nov. 1, 1910.

2 BEBETB-BHEET 2.

nu' Numvls i fins co.. wunmmnn, n. c.

WILLIAM 'U'. GRIFFITHS, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

'AIR-COMPRESSING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 1, 1910.

, Application filed June 15, 1909. Serial No. 502,301.

To all 'whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, VILLIAM U. Giurrr'rrrs, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Air- Compressing Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to im rovements in air compressing apparatus an it has for its object to simplify the construction of apparatus which is designed to compress and dispose of successive charges of air by the successive filling and emptying of a tank with a suitable fluid, preferably air.

In addition to the simplifying of the construction, my invention also has for its object to provide means which is designed to prevent-binding of any of the parts whereby the a paratus may fail to operate.

Ot er objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from the de tailed description which follows.

A convenient embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying` drawings, but it will be understood that various changes in the construction may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the said invention.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an apparatus provided with my invention some of the parts being shown in elevation; Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 isa longitudinal section' of the lower' portion of the apparatus certain of the operative parts being in elevation and in different position from what is shown in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings: 1 designates a tank, which may be of any desired shape, having an inlet pipe 2 through which water or a similar fluid enters the said tank and such water or other fluid is permitted to escape from the said tank through an outlet pipe 3. In my invention the operative parts are so constructed and arranged that the water enters the tank through the inlet pipe 2 only when 4the outlet pipe 3 is closed. The air which may be in the tank is compressed as the water rises therein and is forced into a compressed air receiving chamber, not shown, through a pipe 4. The return of the air into the tank through the pipe Zl is prevented by means of a check valve at 5, the construction of which is not shown. The outlet pipe 3 is adapted to be closed by a valve 10 which is pivotally connected to a lever 11 pivoted at 12. The opposite end 13 of the said lever 11 supports a weight 14. The distanceof the point of connection of the said Weight 14. to the end 13 of the lever 11 from the pivot 12 and its relation to the said pivot are such that the line of gravity of the lever and the Weight may be moved to either side of the pivot 12 so as to retain the valve 10 either in an opened or a closed position.

The inlet pipe 2 is opened and closed by means of a valve 15 which is provided with an operating rod 16 whiohprojects through an opening 17 in an ear or lug 18 projecting laterally from the Weight 14. The turning or movement of the lever 11 about the pivot 12 occasions movement of the Weight as indicated in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings. Such movement occasions rotary movement of the valve 15 first in one direction and then in the opposite direction to open and close the same. Movement of the said valve in one direction is limited by reason of the Contact of the rod 16 wit a stop pin 20 projecting from the end o 'ftlhunlet pipe 2. Rotation of the valve of the inlet pipe occasions an inward and an outward movement thereof to open and close the same. The opening 17 through the lug or ear 18 is considerably larger than the rod 1G so that there is considerable lost motion between the weight and the said rod. The valve 15 for controlling the flow of fluid through the pipe 2 is so arranged that it is closed during the time that the valve 10 is open to permit the fluid to escape fronithe tank 1.

It is desirable that the opening and closing of the valves 10 and 15 shall be automatically effected and for this purpose I have provided a lever 25 pivoted at 26 upon a bracket 27. One end of the said lever is of frame-like or stirrup construction as indicated at 30 and a portion thereof is located between the end portion 13 of the lever 11 and the projecting portion or arm 31, as clearly indicated in the drawings. By occasioning movement of the lever 25 about its pivot 26, movement of the lever l1 about its pivot is also effected. By depressing the frame-like end portion 30 of the lever 25 it contacts with the end 13 of the lever 11 to depress the same and raise the valve 10 to open the pipe 3 and by rea'son of the engagement of the ear or lug 18 with the valve controlling rod 16 the latter is turned to the Y like end 30 of the lever 25 it contacts with the projecting portion or arm 31 and occasions movement of the lever 11, the weight 14 and the parts associated therewith to the positions indicated in Fig. 1. In the latter position the valve 15 is open to permit the flow of water or other fluid into the tank 1.

For the purpose of automatically occasioning movement of the valve 25 and the parts operated and controlled thereby,Ihave provided a rod 40 which is connected to the end portion 28 of the lever 25which rod is adapted to be raised or lifted to raise or lift the end 28 of the lever 25 by means of a float 41. In order thatthe distance of the points of connection of the rod 4() to the lever 25 may be varied as desired, I have provided a number of perfor-ations in said lever as indicated at 42. The upper end of the rod 40 has movable connection with a yoke-like member 45 depending from a lever 46 on which a valve 47 is provided. The lever 46 is pivoted at 48 and the valve is located intermediate` the said pivot and the said yoke-like member 45. The valve 47 is adapted to open and close an air inlet 50. When' the operative parts are in the position indicated by full lines in Fig. 1, the nut 51 by means of which connection is maintained between the rod 40 and the yoke-like member 45, is located a short distance above the portion of the said yoke-like member through which the said rod projects and to which it is connected. This is for the purpose of allowing the said yoke-like member, together with the lever 46, to be lifted a sufficient distance by the float 41 to open the valve `47 before the said yoke-like member comes into contact with the nut 51 to raise the rod 40.

The operation of the apparatus is as follcwsz-Assuming that there is no water or other fluid heavier than air in the tank and that the float 41 is at the bottom of its movement resting upon the stop shoulder 44 at thelower end of the rod 40, and that the levers 11 and 25 and the parts associated therewith and controlled thereby are in the position shown in Fig. 1, the water ,or similar fluid will enter the tank through the inlet pipe 2the valve 15 being open for that purpose, and lift the float 41 upwardly upon the rod 40 finally carrying'it into contact with the lower end or side of the member 45. As the float is raised, pressure of the compressed air thereon occasions an increase in the displacement of the said float, that is to say increases the depth to which it extends in the fluid. It is also toy be understood that this pressure increases as the expansive pressure of the air in the tank which is being Vcharged increases.

Vhen the float has been carried to a sufficient height to raise the yoke or other member 45 and the lever 46 by which it is supported, the valve 47 is raised to open the air inlet and outlet 50 to release the pressure of air in the top of the tank 1. The pressure of the air upon the float 41 being released, it bounds or moves rapidly upward and lifts the rod 40 occasioning movement of the lever 25 about its pivot and also occasioning pivotal movement of the lever 11 to carry the said levers together with the weight 14 and the parts associated therewith from the positions shown in Fig. 1 tothe positions shown in Fig. 8. The water in the tank is then permitted to escape through the outlet pipe 3, the valve 1.5 being closed, the float 41 moving downwardly (as the water or other fluid escapes) on the rod 40 into contact with the shoulder 44 at the lower end of the said rod. -Its weight-.is suflicient when proper leverage is provided to depress the end 28 of the lever 25 and occasion movement of the levers 25 and 11, the weight 14 and the parts associated therewith, from the positions shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 1. During the time that the water is escaping from the tank 1, air y inlet, a valve for opening and closing the said inlet, a water outlet, a valve for opening and closing the said outlet, a'lever pivn oted intermediate its ends land upon one end of which the water outlet valve is supported and upon the other end of which a weight is carried, which weight has operative connection with the said water inletl valve, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends one end of which has operative connection with thev first-mentioned lever, a rod connecting the opposite end of the secondnamed lever to the means for opening and closing the said passage-way, and a float on the said rod, the said float occasioning movement of the said second-mentioned lever whereby the said first-mentioned lever and the weight carried thereby are actuated to cause the opening and closing of the water inlet and the water outlet valves.

2. In an air compressing or charging apparatus, the combination of a tank, a passage-way into the said tank for the induction and eduction of air, a valve for closing the said passage-way, a lever for supporting the said valve, a Water inlet, a valve for closing the said inlet, a Water outlet, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends and havino' a valve upon one side of its pivot for olosmg the said Water outlet and having a Weight upon the opposite side of the said pivot, the relation of the said Weight to the said pivot being such that the line of gravity is moved from one side to the other of the said pivot by movement of said lever, means eX- tending laterally from the valve closing the Water inlet, the said means having movable engagement With the said Weight, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends and having one end portion thereof in engagement with the Water outlet valve lever, a rod having connection With the opposite end portion of the said lever, and also with the lever supporting the valve for elosin the passage- Way for the induction and e uction of air, a floating member on thesaid rod, the said member being moved upwardly upon the said rod by the filling of the said tank with water and being permitted to move downwardly upon the said rod upon the escape of the Water to occasion the opening and closing of the said valves.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have hereunto signed my name this 14th day of June, A. D. 1909.

WILLIAM U. GRIFFITHS.

In the resence of- S.` ALoME BROOKE, CARRIE E. KLEINFELDER. 

